Device for applying tension to yarn



0, 1955 c. H. GINGHER 2,716,429

DEVICE FOR APPLYING TENSION TO YARN Filed Dec. 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VENTOR ATTORNEYS 8 30, 1955 c. H. GINGHER 2,716,429

DEVICE FOR APPLYING TENSION TO YARN Filed Dec. 28, 1950 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 "annw 8 57 7 35 41 32 4 i ml[IIIIIIIIIIIIIII IQQ! In If a\\\\\\ INVENTOR I v hrflfizlyfiar By W ATTORNEYS United States Patent DEVICE FOR APPLYING TENSION T0 YARN Clair H. Gingher, Greensboro, N. C.

Application December 28, 1950, Serial No. 203,053

9 Ciaims. (Cl. 139205) This invention relates to devices for applying tension to yarn in the various operations of the textile industry wherever the need for such tension arises.

It is well recognized that in various operations in the textile industry there is need for tension upon the yarn being used to prevent its too rapid paying out, and in some instances to retard the yarn to ensure a uniform product. This is particularly true in weaving.

For purposes of illustration the invention is shown and described in connection with a loom shuttle where it is essential that the yarn unreeling from the bobbin, as the shuttle is thrown through the shed, be paid out at a uniform rate to weave good quality cloth. Prior to the ad vent of automatic bobbin changing looms, there was no problem, as the tension device could be released when a bobbin was being changed, and the yarn of the fresh bobbin threaded through the tension device before the loom was restarted. Now, however, it is necessary to have a tension which will automatically rethread when a bobbin change is made so that tension will be present on the first throw of the shuttle. Numerous devices have been suggested and used, but none have proven entirely satisfactory for they are not fool-proof, and many times miss rethreading, or improperly rethread, on the first pick.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a tension which will automatically open and close during the bobbin change to ensure proper threading so that tension may be put upon the yarn for the first pick and the continuous action thereafter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tension which will at all times apply a uniform tension upon the yarn passing through it.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in such devices, means for regulating the tension applied, so that the device may be adjusted to yarns of different sizes or types.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of part of a shuttle box of an automatic loom showing a shuttle equipped with the tension device of the present invention in position in the box, and certain cooperating mechanism;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section through the shuttle, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the companion members forming the tension in operative position gripping a yarn;

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connections between the operating parts of the tension and parts of the loom system; I

Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the nose portion of a shuttle and cooperating parts of the shuttle box,

2,71 ,429 Patented Aug. 30, 1955 illustrating a mechanically operated tension, the tension device being shown in released position; I

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but with the tensioning device in gripping position;

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 77 of Figure 5 and ing to that form of the invention shown in Figures 1 1 through 4, there is shown a tensioning device for the yarn of a bobbin positioned in a trically controlled. 1

The shuttle 1 is shown in a shuttle box 2, and carries the usual bobbin 3 from which the yarn 4 is paid out through the shuttle eye 5. Located in the I1OSB' Of the shuttle, between the bobbin-receiving compartment and the eye 5, is the tension device 6.

The tension device is a two-part affair having a fixed member 7, and a companion movable member 8. Both.

of these members are formed of bent wire, and each has portions which, when the members are inoperating posi-' tion interleave in offset relation to define a sinuous pathf for the yarn. The fixed member 7 is made from a continuous length of wire, the projecting ends 9 being imbedded in the side wall of the shuttle. A short distance from either end, the wire is turned downward to form one leg 62 of a pair of vertical legs 10, and then horizontally forward to form a shelf portion 11. The wire is then upturned into a. hook-like end 12, whereupon a reverse bend is made and the wire follows reversely the course just described to. points near the upper ends of the vertical legs 10 to form the other leg 63 of the pair.

The remaining ,portionof the wire is bent away from the legs toward a central position between the legs forming the bridge portions 13. The central portion of the wire is then turned downwardly, then forwardly and then upwardly to form a central leg portion 14, shelf portion 15 and hook-like portion 16. The end and central legs form one skeleton wall of a trough to receive the yarn when the two tension members are separated, and the shelf-portion form a skeleton bottom for this trough. The respective legs form individual friction members to engage the yarn when the two tension members are in operative position.

The movable tension member continuous length of wire. tions 17 of the wire extend horizontally to fit slidably into openings 18 in the opposite side of the shuttle from that in which the ends 9 of the member 7 are fixed. lnwardly from the ends, the wire is bent upwardly to form one leg 64 of a pair of vertical legs 19. The wire is then bent forwardly to form an overhanging 20. From this point the wire makes a reverse bend and follows the vertical leg 64 downwardly to form the leg 65, but extends to a point beneath the juncture of the legs 19 with the horizontal end portions 17. The wire is then bent to extend horizontally, as at 21, in the direction of the end portions 17. The central portion of the wire forms a bridge 22 connecting the horizontal portions 21. The portions 21 and 22 are slidable in a slot 23 beneath the openings 18 in the shuttle.

When the tension members are mounted in the shuttle, the movable member 8 is urged toward the fixed member 7 by springs 24, positioned in the'openings 18. Set screws 25, threaded into the outer ends of openings 18, serve to adjust the springs 24 and so change the pressure on the member 8. When the member 8 is urged forward, its vertical legs 19 and toe portions 20 pass between the 8 also is formed from a central leg 14 and end legs 10 of member 7 and beneath:

shuttle, which device is elec.

In this member, the end portoe portion the bridge portions 1-3. Thus yarn which was laid between the members when open will be brought into contact with the vertical legs 10 and 14 of member 7 and the vertical legs 19 of member 8. As the legs of the respective members pass between one another the yarn course will become sinuous, and the yarn will be in frictional contact with the five leg portions of the two members.

As pointed out, the movable member is normally urged into operative position with respect to the fixed member. Means are provided to withdraw the movable member when a bobbin is depleted and a new one is to be installed. This may take the form of an electromagnet 26 positioned in the shuttle box opposite the position of slot 23 when the shuttle is at rest in the box. When the magnet is energized, it will attract the bridge portion 22 of the movable member 8 moving it against the action of the springs 24 to separate the elements 7 and 8.

The magnet may be energized in any suitable manner. However, it is desirable that the tension members separate only when a bobbin is depleted and ready for change. For this reason, the electromagnet has been shown in circuit with the bobbin feeler mechanism 27. This mechanism operates in wel1-known manner, the feeler members, which are electrodes, moving in through an opening in the shuttle to contact the bobbin. When the yarn is depleted, the feeler members contact a metal ferrule on the quill which bridges the electrodes and completes a circuit to actuate the bobbin change mechanism. As shown in Figure 4, the electromagnet is in series with the electrodes and Will be energized to draw the movable element 8 from operative position with respect to the fixed element 7. The circuit to the electrodes and electromagnet also includes in series the coil of a relay 58.

Thus, when the electrodes are bridged, both the electromagnet and the relay will be energized. This will draw up the relay armature and close the relay contacts 59, closing a holding circuit through the relay coil and the electromagnet. In this way, the electromagnet may be kept energized after the feeler mechanism has been withdrawn. The holding circuit includes a micro-switch 60, which is normally closed, and positioned to be opened by the picker arm 61 as it makes its first movement after the bobbin change. Thus, the electromagnet may remain energized until the shuttle has moved several inches on its first pick. Opening switch 60 will de-energize the relay 58, breaking the holding circuit, and the electromagnet will remain de-energized until the new bobbin is depleted. As the supply bobbins have their yarn ends tied to a post positioned on the centerline of the shuttle position, the movement of the shuttle out of the box will cause the yarn to drop into the trough formed between the separated elements of the tension device. When the electromagnet is tie-energized the yarn will be in position, and the elements of the tension device will close putting the required tension upon the yarn. Thus, the yarn will be under tension from the beginning of the first pick.

In Figures to 8, inclusive, a modification is shown in which the tension members are slightly different in shape and operation, and in which the tension device is opened and closed by mechanical means.

In this form of the invention, the tension device comprises two fixed members 28 and a pivoted member 29. The fixed members each are formed of bent wire, and each has a pair of vertical legs 30 and a bridge member 31. i The bottom ends of legs 30 are secured to the shuttle. The two fixed members are positioned in alignment with their legs fixed to the shuttle approximately along the longitudinal center line of the shuttle. The pivoted memher is also of bent wire, and consists of a tension applying arm 32 and a control arm 33. It is pivotally connected as at 34 to the shuttle at the juncture of the two arms for swinging movement in a horizontal plane. The tension applying arm is provided with a plurality of vertical legs 35 arranged to pass between the legs of the fixed members. Each of the legs is turned horizontally at its lower end to form the shelf-portions 36. The ends of adjacent pairs of the shelf-portions are connected by bridge members 37, and the tops of the alternate pairs of the legs 35 are connected by bridge members 38. The free end of the tension applying arm is provided with a plate 39 which may be struck to actuate the pivoted member, as will be described. The control arm 33 extends at an angle to the tension applying arm so that it may be used to normally urge the arm 32 into tension applying position. Any yieldable member may be connected to the outer end of arm 33 for this purpose. There has been shown an elastic band 40 having one end attached to arm 33 and its other end connected to a screw anchor 41, which is threaded into a threaded opening in the shuttle. Adjustment of the screw 41 will extend the elastic band 40 or allow it to contract and thus regulate the tension which will be placed upon yarn passing between the tension members.

In order to separate the tension members when the yarn on the bobbin is depleted and a fresh bobbin is to be inserted, a mechanical device has been used, which is set into operation by the bobbin change mechanism. The mechanism has as its principal element a sliding barrel 42, which is mounted upon a fixed rod 43 secured to any fixed part of the machine. The rod has its axis in alignment with an opening 44 in the shuttle which opening is in line with the tension releasing plate 39. Barrel 42 has a cylindrical chamber 45 to receive the enlarged head 46 of the rod 43. A cap plate 47 covers the end of the chamber and is provided with an opening to closely surround the rod. A spring 48 surrounds the rod and bears against the enlarged rod head 46 of the rod and the cap plate 47 to normally urge the barrel away from the shuttle. Linkage 49 is connected to a suitable portion of the bobbin change mechanism so that when that mechanism is set into operation the linkage 49 will cause a bell crank 50 to bear upon the outer end of the barrel 42 and move it toward the shuttle into operative position. This movement of the barrel will compress spring 48. In order to hold the barrel in operative position against the tension of spring 48, a spring latch member is provided which has a locking pin 51 which will be forced into the chamher by spring 52 when the barrel has been moved to position the enlarged head of rod 43 in the outer part of the chamber. The pin 51 engages the bottom of the enlarged head and prevents outward movement of the barrel. Extending through the inner end of the barrel is a tension releasing plunger 53. This plunger is pivotally connected to the inner end of the barrel, as at 54, and normally held in alignment with the axis of the barrel by means of a snap spring 55. When the barrel is moved inward by bell crank 50, plunger 53 enters through the opening 44 in the shuttle, contacts plate 39 on tension member 29 and moves the tension member about its pivot to separate the two members. After a fresh bobbin has been inserted in the shuttle, the shuttle will commence its first pick. A groove 56 is cut in the side of the shuttle communicating with the opening 44. The groove does not extend to the depth of the plunger when in operative position, so that as the shuttle starts to move the wall of opening 44 will strike the end of the plunger, causing it to pivot against the hold of the snap spring 55. The upper end of the plunger will strike the latch pin 51 and move it into its recess in the side wall of the barrel. This Will release the barrel and spring 48 will cause it to move away from the shuttle to its inoperative position. The enlarged head of rod 43 has a tapered central opening 57 which will move over the upper end of plunger 53, as the barrel moves to inoperative position, and cause the plunger to be brought back to its normal position in alignment with the axis of the barrel. Snap spring will then again engage the plunger.

While in the above, several practical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be understood that these are merely by way of example, and the invention may take other forms within the scope of the ap' pended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for applying tension to yarn being fed during a machine operation, a fixed yarn-engaging element having a plurality of vertical members longitudinally spaced along the element, a movable yarn-engaging element having a plurality of similar spaced vertical members which are staggered with respect to the vertical members of the fixed element and adapted to fit between the vertical members of the fixed element when the elements are in yarn-engaging position, a plurality of horizontal members extending from the vertical members of said fixed element toward said movable element, a plurality of horizontal members extending from the vertical members of said movable element toward the fixed element fitting between the horizontal members of said fixed element and forming with the horizontal members of sail fixed element when said elements are separated the bottom of a trough of which the respective vertical elements form the side walls, means to separate the elements when the supply of yarn is depleted, means to hold the elements in separated relation while the yarn supply is replenished, and means to urge the elements into yarn-engaging position after the machine operation is again started.

2. In a device for applying tension to yarn being fed during a machine operation, a fixed yarn-engaging element having a plurality of vertical members longitudinally spaced along the element, a movable yarn-engaging element having a plurality of similar spaced vertical members which are staggered with respect to the vertical members of the fixed element and adapted to fit between the vertical members of the fixed element when the elements are in yarn-engaging position, an electromagnet, means to energize the electromagnet to separate the elements when the supply of yarn is depleted, means to maintain the electromagnet energized while the yarn supply is being replenished, means to de-energize the electromagnet after the machine operation is again started, and means to normally urge the elements into yarn-engaging position.

3. In a device for applying tension to yarn being fed during a machine operation, a fixed yarn-engaging element having a plurality of vertical members longitudinally spaced along said element, a movable yarn-engaging element having a plurality of similar spaced vertical members which are staggered with respect to the vertical members of said fixed element and adapted to fit between the vertical members of the fixed element when the elements are in yarn-engaging position, a plurality of horizontal members extending from the vertical members of said fixed element toward said movable element, a plurality of horizontal members extending from the Vfil' tical members of said movable element toward said fixed element fitting between the horizontal members of said fixed element and forming with the horizontal members of said fixed element when said elements are separated the bottom of a trough of which the respective vertical members for the side walls, an electromagnet, means to energize the electromagnet when the supply of yarn is depleted, means to maintain the electromagnet energized while the yarn supply is replenished, means to de-energize the electromagnet after the machine operation is again started, and means to normally urge the elements into yarn-engaging position.

4. In a device for applying tension to yarn being fed during a machine operation as claimed in claim 3, said means to maintain said electromagnet energized including a relay and a holding circuit.

5. In a device for applying tension to yarn being fed into a machine, a fixed yarn-engaging element having a plurality of vertical members spaced longitudinally along the element, a movable yarn-engaging element having similar spaced vertical members staggered with respect to the vertical members of the fixed element and adapted to fit between the vertical members of the fixed element when the elements are in yarn-engaging position, at least one of said elements having horizontal portions extending from the vertical members to form the bottom of a trough when the elements are separated, the respective vertical members forming the walls of said trough, a plunger to strike the movable element and move it from yarn-engaging position when the yarn supply is depleted, means to hold the elements in separated relation while the yarn supply is replenished, means to release the movable element after the machine is again started, and means to normally urge the elements into yarn-engaging position.

6. In a device for applying tension to yarn being fed into a machine as claimed in claim 5, means to move said plunger to and from operative position, said means to hold the elements in separated relation comprising a latch to lock said plunger moving means in plunger operating position.

7. In a device for applying tension to yarn being fed during a machine operation, a fixed yarn-engaging element having a plurality of vertical members longitudinally spaced along the element, a movable yarn-engaging element having a plurality of similar spaced vertical members which are staggered with respect to the vertical members of the fixed element and adapted to fit between the vertical members of the fixed element when the elements are in yarn-engaging position, means to urge and yieldingly hold the elements in yarn-engaging position, means to separate the elements responsive to depletion of the yarn supply, means operated by actuation of the separating means to hold the elements separated, and means actuated by re-starting motion of the machine to release the holding means.

8. In a device for applying tension to yarn being fed into a machine, a fixed yarn-engaging element having a plurality of vertical members spaced longitudinally along the element, a movable yarn-engaging element having a plurality of similar spaced vertical members staggered with respect to the vertical members of said fixed element and adapted to fit betweenthe vertical members of said fixed element when said elements are in yarn-engaging position, means to normally urge the elements into yarnengaging position, a plunger to strike the movable element and move it from its yarn-engaging position responsive to depletion of the yarn supply, means operated by actuation of the separating means to hold the elements separated, and means actuated by re-starting motion of the machine to release the holding means.

9. In a device for applying tension to yarn being fed during the operation of a machine having a shuttle with a replaceable bobbin holding a yarn supply therein and a bobbin depletion detector adapted to stop operation of the machine upon depletion of the yarn supply, a fixed element and a movable element to engage the yarn between them, means to normally urge the elements into yarn-engaging position, a plunger to strike the movable element and move it from its yarn engaging position responsive to actuation of the bobbin depletion detector, and means actuated by movement of the shuttle to permit retraction of the plunger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,268,136 McGuiness June 4, 1918 1,791,805 Davis Feb. 10, 1931 2,321,040 Plevyak June 8, 1943 2,439,158 Daboll Apr. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,758 Great Britain of 1907 373,765 Great Britain June, 2, 1932 

